Fluctuating scale within minutes?

JAG48
JAG48 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone else's scale fluctuate within a few minutes span? This morning I weighed myself and it said I weighed X amount. I was surprised so I got off and weighed myself again a minute later, still X. I then waited about 3 minutes and got on it again, it had now said I gained a pound from X. I decided to walk away and come back 15 minutes later, it then said I was X.5 - lost half a pound from the last time? I did not eat or drink anything during this time period and did not add or remove any clothing so nothing changed between these times. What is going on?!
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Replies

  • iwillsoonbeslim
    iwillsoonbeslim Posts: 283
    Low battery power?
  • brianna626
    brianna626 Posts: 156
    NO CLUE, my scale does the same thing!
  • KevDaniel
    KevDaniel Posts: 449 Member
    Yes I know exactly what you mean.. The scale was an odd obsession I went through weighing myself 3-4 times a day sometimes jumping up 4 pounds or so within moments. I have just come to realize I need to ignore it and only count it once a week or so.. On the upside just pick the lowest one to call your new weight :P
  • mom2boys
    mom2boys Posts: 60 Member
    Mine does the same thing too! I usually weigh myself within about 15 minutes time and then go with whatever weight I get the most of. I think mine has to do with storing it on it's side though. I just changed the batteries in mine as well.
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    Is it an electronic scale? Many are neither accurate nor precise. They can also be affected by being too close to the wall. At any rate, don't obsess and weigh yourself daily or multiple times per day. Instead pick a consistent time to weigh yourself.

    I do it around 6pm after a workout at the gym, with dry hair, and wearing only a towel. That cuts down on the variability.
  • SimplyDeLish
    SimplyDeLish Posts: 539
    Digital scales will fluctuate...just the nature of the beast.
  • chicco57
    chicco57 Posts: 298
    I wish I knew mines does that too!
  • mandeiko
    mandeiko Posts: 1,657 Member
    Yes I know exactly what you mean.. The scale was an odd obsession I went through weighing myself 3-4 times a day sometimes jumping up 4 pounds or so within moments. I have just come to realize I need to ignore it and only count it once a week or so.. On the upside just pick the lowest one to call your new weight :P

    Exactly this for me too.
  • mandeiko
    mandeiko Posts: 1,657 Member
    My mom and I like to joke that it is a gravity shift on Earth.
  • gymrat789
    gymrat789 Posts: 7 Member
    don't obsess over bathroom scales, they are not 100 % accurate, Fluctuations are very common. the main thing is that you have to use the same scale in monitoring your weight. Weigh yourself ONCE per week and monitor the weight changes. scales differ from each other. i used to compare my weight from my bathroom scale to the one in our gym and they were 5 lbs apart. so i decided to stick to one scale instead. the important thing is that if you lose x amount of weight in a month, that should be enough.
  • rmancha
    rmancha Posts: 14 Member
    I thought I was the only one going crazy with my scale!..So what do you recomend out there?...should we just not use a digital scale anymore?
  • James_1954
    James_1954 Posts: 187 Member
    Does anyone else's scale fluctuate within a few minutes span? This morning I weighed myself and it said I weighed X amount. I was surprised so I got off and weighed myself again a minute later, still X. I then waited about 3 minutes and got on it again, it had now said I gained a pound from X. I decided to walk away and come back 15 minutes later, it then said I was X.5 - lost half a pound from the last time? I did not eat or drink anything during this time period and did not add or remove any clothing so nothing changed between these times. What is going on?!

    Let's assume you weigh 150 lb (can't see your profile). What you're reporting here sounds like a random variation of one pound, peak-to-valley, in a short time. If you're 150 lb, that's a total variance of 0.7%, which ain't much. If your scale reading surprised you, and your response was to remeasure multiple times, I like your instincts ... you were quantifying the variation. To retell your story, assuming that X = 150, you recorded weights of 150.0, 150.0, 151.0, and 150.5. At that point, you can walk away like an engineer and say, "My weight this morning is 150.5 ± 0.5 lb."

    Every physical measurement is associated with a non-zero amount of random variation, or "noise." Sounds like the "noise" on your scale is about ± 0.35%. That's not bad at all. And weighing at infrequent intervals is a good idea, too. that way, you're not trying to discern changes in your weight that are "within the noise" (more engineering-speak) of your measuring device.

    Cheers!
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    I thought I was the only one going crazy with my scale!..So what do you recomend out there?...should we just not use a digital scale anymore?

    They say that digital scales are better, because the classic scale has moving parts that are more prone to damage. I seriously doubt that a digital bathroom scale is precise to half a pound though.

    You can also see fluctuations if you aren't standing in EXACTLY the same place on the scale. Maybe make some markings with a Sharpie to be consistent in how you weigh yourself?
  • 27strange
    27strange Posts: 837 Member
    Lots of scales have inaccuracies and inadequacies. If its battery operated the batteries could be getting low as well.
    Often times I will weigh myself 3 times in the course of a minute and take the average weight as my current weight. Cheap bathroom scales tend to fluctuate. Also make sure you are putting your big toes in the exact same spot every time so that each time you weigh yourself you are standing on the scale in the same position. Mark where your big toes go with some colored tape or something so that you maintain the same position on the scale each time you weigh.
  • evilbanks
    evilbanks Posts: 166
    Does anyone else's scale fluctuate within a few minutes span? This morning I weighed myself and it said I weighed X amount. I was surprised so I got off and weighed myself again a minute later, still X. I then waited about 3 minutes and got on it again, it had now said I gained a pound from X. I decided to walk away and come back 15 minutes later, it then said I was X.5 - lost half a pound from the last time? I did not eat or drink anything during this time period and did not add or remove any clothing so nothing changed between these times. What is going on?!

    I think your scale is jacked.....................
  • mrdavidjk
    mrdavidjk Posts: 105
    i found that battery operated ones do that.
    i can weigh different amounts when i weigh myself in 5 minutes
    i weigh in using my wi fit board, it doesn't vary
  • JAG48
    JAG48 Posts: 6 Member
    Wow! Thanks everyone! I'm glad to see it's not just my scale! It is a digital scale I've had for a few years and I try to place my feet in the same place every time (right in the middle). James your reply cracked me up but definitely made a lot of sense! I'll accept maybe it's just a bit off and go with the average. I'm at a plateau right now and I'm also at the 'average' weight for my height so every little pound and half-pound right now counts! (Bride to be) :) Thank you sooooo much everyone! I really thought I was going crazy!
  • audigal2008
    audigal2008 Posts: 1,129 Member
    NO CLUE, my scale does the same thing!
    mine 2! Frustrating!
  • minnie86
    minnie86 Posts: 187
    mine too. when i do my weekly weigh-in i seriously take the average of 3 trials!
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member
    Lots of scales have inaccuracies and inadequacies. If its battery operated the batteries could be getting low as well.
    Often times I will weigh myself 3 times in the course of a minute and take the average weight as my current weight. Cheap bathroom scales tend to fluctuate. Also make sure you are putting your big toes in the exact same spot every time so that each time you weigh yourself you are standing on the scale in the same position. Mark where your big toes go with some colored tape or something so that you maintain the same position on the scale each time you weigh.

    THANKS for this tip about the tape. I'm going to pay attention to this-AND change the batteries.

    I was convinced the stinkin' thing was demon possessed and was going to cast it out. The neighbor has some pigs nearby.
  • audigal2008
    audigal2008 Posts: 1,129 Member
    Lots of scales have inaccuracies and inadequacies. If its battery operated the batteries could be getting low as well.
    Often times I will weigh myself 3 times in the course of a minute and take the average weight as my current weight. Cheap bathroom scales tend to fluctuate. Also make sure you are putting your big toes in the exact same spot every time so that each time you weigh yourself you are standing on the scale in the same position. Mark where your big toes go with some colored tape or something so that you maintain the same position on the scale each time you weigh.

    THANKS for this tip about the tape. I'm going to pay attention to this-AND change the batteries.

    I was convinced the stinkin' thing was demon possessed and was going to cast it out. The neighbor has some pigs nearby.
    [/quote

    UMMM Thanks for the advice! I just had a huge battle with my brand new scale! I HATE weighing especially if the numbers are bouncing up and down 5 lbs in 2 mins! SO I took your advise and marked on my scale where to place my feet! THANKS SO MUCH! I just lost 5 lbs in 2 mins! lol
  • Artemis_100
    Artemis_100 Posts: 3
    I have the same problem! It's driving me crazy! The scales can be as much as 8 pounds different from high to low with 5-6 consecutive weigh-ins! I could care less about what fraction of a pound I've gained or lost, but it would be nice to know if I was headed in the right general direction.

    My scale gives me a digital indicator of when I'm standing in a balanced position, and the scale is on a flat linoleum floor.

    Achhhhhhhhhhhh:grumble: :grumble: :grumble: :grumble:
  • Coalforchristmas
    Coalforchristmas Posts: 10
    All scales do this. In chemistry class, where we had really good scales, I could wave my hand across the top of the scale and the weight displayed would change.. When I get on my bathroom scale the weight can change within a few minutes around 1-2 pounds. Don't worry about it.
  • busbyus
    busbyus Posts: 36 Member
    Omg thank goodness its not just out scales ! Was beginning to get severely p***d off! :) average n tape great ideas!
  • AvonBell
    AvonBell Posts: 107 Member
    I don't know how folks can use inaccurate scales, it would drive me insane. This is the scale you want if you want consistent and accurate numbers:


    http://www.amazon.com/Eatsmart-Precision-Bathroom-Technology-440-Pounds/dp/B0032TNPOE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1394267067&sr=8-7&keywords=smart+scale


    It's inexpensive too.
  • busbyus
    busbyus Posts: 36 Member
    Avonbell need a uk version of these!
  • devonbiker
    devonbiker Posts: 1 Member
    We have digital scales and it's really bothered me how it fluctuates when repeating readings. I've often thought about buying other scales but when reading reviews, no matter what the scales there are always people saying the same thing. Inaccurate when repeating weigh ins.

    I usually weigh in with same clothes on every morning and usually take the first reading unless I don't believe the reading. Then I repeat my weigh ins.. This morning I stood on my scales about 4x. Two days ago I was 225.8lbs. A new low for me. This morning it read 224.8lbs. I was surprised so I weighed again #2 225.8. #3 226.2lbs. #4 225.8. So what do I believe? This happens a lot if I repeat my weigh ins.
  • crackpotbaby
    crackpotbaby Posts: 1,297 Member
    Which do you think is more likely?

    a) you are rapidly gaining or losing weight minute to minute

    b) your scales are inaccurate
  • SoyD986
    SoyD986 Posts: 57 Member
    This morning I was about to throw my newish Aria out the window for this same exact reason! I stepped on 10x - yes 10 - because I've found lately that I've had to take 3 readings to get to 2 same readings and all 10 were different by +.5-+2lbs.

    Now, I have a lot to lose, but seeing that kind of uptick (of any kind) is just heart breaking. Yes, it's a trend ... but darn you scale and Fitbit! My $20 WW scale was more reliable then this thing. Which I am now considering just buying and sticking with, convenience be damned if I have to do this crap every morning.

    Don't even get me started with the body fat % ... I am literally more fat now then I was 25lbs ago. Ha!
  • size102b
    size102b Posts: 1,370 Member
    Mine always do this even doctors scales do it intake the lowest weight each week of 3 weighs
    Tbh it's only a number
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